The Director of Criminal Investigation in the Yemeni Shabwa Governorate, Colonel Abdullah Al-Ayashi, accused the UAE of supporting armed groups carrying out repeated bombing operations in the governorate, days after thwarting an attempt to smuggle weapons there.
Al-Ayyashi said that the investigations with the suspects revealed their affiliation with the so-called UAE-backed Shabwana Elite Forces, and that they admitted to detonating the oil pipeline.
He added that the defendants will be referred to the prosecution, and that there are other suspects whose arrest request has been circulated at all security points.
On Friday, a government source told Anadolu Agency that the Special Security Forces foiled smuggling quantities of various weapons in Habban Shabwah district, which was en route to armed cells affiliated with the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council.
Shabwa governorate has been witnessing attacks by government forces in August 2019 against patrols, military points and oil sites, and the finger of blame is pointing towards the armed cells of the Southern Transitional Council.
Shabwa, late April, along with 5 southern Yemeni provinces out of 8- rejected the transitional council's declaration of self-rule, and considered it a second coup against the government after the Houthi coup.